Fireworks ban is right call, danger is very real

Drought conditions prompt ban of fireworks sales.

Published 10:38 pm, Thursday, June 23, 2011

The Fourth of July would not be the same without fireworks. But this season, it's better to be safe than sorry, and also to avoid hefty fines.

The region's extreme dry conditions have prompted Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff to sign a disaster declaration banning all fireworks in Bexar County through 7 a.m. July 5.

The early declaration means vendors won't stock up on inventory for the upcoming Fourth of July holiday they won't be able to sell. The Independence Day holiday usually has a 10-day sales period.

Bexar County fireworks aficionados hoping to cross county lines in search of the banned items won't have much luck. Guadalupe, Atascosa, Medina, Kerr and Gillespie counties have imposed similar bans.

Wilson, Comal and Blanco counties have a partial ban limiting sales on certain types of aerial fireworks and are considering more severe limits after Gov. Rick Perry's renewal of the statewide disaster proclamation based on extreme fire hazard.

In previous years, it has been lawful to possess fireworks in the county but not in the city of San Antonio, where possession of fireworks is prohibited by city ordinance and can result in a fine of up to $1,000. Under Wolff's order, the use of any fireworks in the county could also result in a fine of up to $1,000.

The risk of a fine or of starting a fire hardly seems worth it. Play it safe and stick with the rules.

Don't bring fireworks into the city and don't import banned fireworks from other counties. Sadly, this week's one day of rain was not enough to end the drought.